The Philadelphia Eagles released offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher on Thursday, as the NFL team announced an exchange of offensive linemen on its practice squad.
Pierschbacher was released by the Eagles to make room on the roster for former Eagles offensive tackle Brett Toth.
Toth appeared in 17 games for the Eagles in 2020 and 2021, starting one, and was placed on the physically unable to perform list in 2022. He began the 2023 season as a member of the Eagles’ practice squad.
Toth was signed by the Panthers on Oct. 25, and he appeared in three games, making one start, before being waived on Monday.
Pierschbacher had been with Philadelphia for four weeks. On November 13, he joined the Eagles’ practice squad. This time, the center/guard did not appear in a game while with Philadelphia.
Pierschbacher is the Eagles’ second former Alabama player to be released from the practice squad this week. Cam Sims was released by the Eagles on Tuesday and signed with the Panthers’ practice squad on Thursday.
Pierschbacher had been out of the NFL since Aug. 13, when the Detroit Lions released him as part of an injury settlement.
Pierschbacher started at center in Detroit’s first preseason game two days before his release. Pierschbacher started the first nine offensive snaps of the New York Giants’ 21-16 victory. He exited the game with 7:04 remaining in the first quarter. Pierschbacher left the game after right guard Colby Sorsdal collided with the back of the center’s right leg, according to the Lions.
Pierschbacher was a four-year starter at Alabama, earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2017 as a left guard and again in 2018 as a center.
Pierschbacher, a fifth-round pick of the Washington Redskins in the 2019 NFL Draft, has appeared in 11 NFL regular-season games, including five for Washington in 2019, three for Philadelphia in 2020, and three for Detroit in 2022. He has played one offensive snap and 39 special-teams plays.
Pierschbacher spent the majority of the 2021 season on the practice squad of the New York Jets. Pierschbacher signed with the Lions for his fourth NFL season on September 8, 2022, after being released by the Jets at the end of the preseason. Pierschbacher spent the majority of the 2022 season on Detroit’s practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on December 10.
Pierschbacher signed a one-year, $1.035 million contract extension with the Lions in March to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
